A team of researchers is assisting Skate Canada with the development of the sport of adaptive figure skating for skaters with vision impairment (low vision or blindness). The researchers have developed an online survey to begin to understand how figure skating performance is affected by vision impairment and to identify the skaters with vision impairment in Canada who may be eligible to participate in future research studies. The research team in this study are Dr. Kristine Dalton and Amritha Stalin PhD (University of Waterloo), and Dr. Allison Scott, Dr. Marni Wesner, Ibrahim Daibes MPH, Dr. Clare Halleran, Heather McMahon (Skate Canada).
Responses are anonymous and will help the research team understand the current status of skaters with visual impairment in Canada. Responses will also help the research team develop future projects to support the development of adaptive figure skating. Researchers are interested in responses from skaters with visual impairments, individuals who know skaters with visual impairments, individuals with visual impairments who are interested in skating, skaters without vision impairment, figure skating officials, figure skating coaches, or figure skating club members.
The survey takes no more than 10 minutes to complete.
For further information and to participate, please visit this link, Survey about the impact of vision impairment on adaptive skating performance.
The French version can be found at Sondage sur les patineurs ayant une déficience visuelle.
This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Board.